Share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers in South Africa
South Africa: Share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers was 46 % in 2021. ▼ Falling
Share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers in South Africa stood at 46 %. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers in South Africa peaked at 57 % in 2000 and was at its lowest, 46 %, in 2020.
That places South Africa 64th out of 166 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 57 % | — |
| 2001 | 56 % | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 56 % | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 56 % | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 55 % | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 55 % | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 54 % | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 53 % | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 52 % | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 52 % | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 51 % | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 51 % | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 51 % | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 51 % | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 51 % | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 51 % | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 52 % | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 51 % | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 49 % | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 47 % | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 46 % | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 46 % | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 46 % is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 41 %, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 46 % is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59 %, 78% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.6 % | 52 % | 57 % | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.5 % | 47 % | 52 % | 10 |
| 2020s | 46 % | 46 % | 46 % | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 64 Brunei Darussalam 46 % compare
- 64 Georgia 46 % compare
- 64 Pakistan 46 % compare
- 64 Sao Tome and Principe 46 % compare
- 64 Vanuatu 46 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers in South Africa?
- Share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers in South Africa was 46 % in 2021, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 57 % in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 46 % in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers?
- South Africa ranks 64th out of 166 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers (percent) (3-year average) — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Suite of Food Security Indicators presents the core set of food security indicators. Following the recommendation of experts gathered in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Round Table on hunger measurement, hosted at FAO headquarters in September 2011, an initial set of indicators aiming to capture various aspects of food insecurity is presented here. The choice of the indicators has been informed by expert judgement and the availability of data with sufficient coverage to enable comparisons across regions and over time. Many of these indicators are produced and published elsewhere by FAO and other international organizations. They are reported here in a single database with the aim of building a wide food security information system. More indicators will be added to this set as more data will become available. Indicators are classified along the four dimensions of food security -- availability, access, utilization and stability.